A Perfect Prep?

With the last two winners of Naas's G3 Irish National Stud EBF Blue Wind S., Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), subsequently finishing runner-up in the G1 Epsom Oaks and winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Wednesday's race has to be taken seriously as a Classic trial despite the presence of two of Ireland's leading older fillies. With all bar two of the winners being from outside the 3-year-old crop since its inception in 2001, the focus understandably falls on that generation, with the Listed Salsabil S. one-two Pretty Perfect (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Glamorous Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) squaring off once again. The former, who like How High the Moon (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) represents Ballydoyle, had upwards of 3 1/2 lengths to spare over some smart rivals when making all in Navan's Listed 10-furlong contest Apr. 17, but faces a far sterner examination here with the 4-year-olds Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) in attendance. The former, who has clearly benefitted from trainer Dermot Weld's patient approach, put the useful Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) and Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in their place in The Curragh's Listed Alleged S. over this trip Apr. 3, where Bocca Baciata was back in fourth. The latter has since won the Apr. 24 Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park, and that form received a boost on Sunday when the well-beaten third Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) captured the G3 Amethyst S. Penalised three pounds for her win in the G3 Dance Design S. at The Curragh in August, the Niarchos Family's Bocca Baciata is up against it. “It's going to be tough giving the weight away, especially to some smart looking 3-year-olds,” trainer Jessie Harrington said. “She's in great form, but I just hope there isn't too much rain. She does like a bit of an ease, but not very soft. Aidan's 3-year-old, Pretty Perfect, was very impressive in the Salsabil, so she'll be tough to beat and Dermot Weld's horse [Zhukova] beat us first time out. It's a tidy little race to say there's only six runners. It will be interesting.”